Gem-dihydropolyfluoroalkanes and monohydropolyfluoroalkenes, processes for their production, and use of gem-dihydropolyfluoroalkanes in cleaning compositions

Abstract

A catalyic process is disclosed for producing fluorine-substituted hydrocarbon products of the formulae RCH 2 CF 2 R and RFC═CHR at an elevated temperature, from compounds of the formula RCHFCHFR, where each R is independently selected from the group consisting of —CF 3 , —CF 2 CF 3 and —CF 2 CF 2 CF 3 or where both R groups of a formula together are —(CF 2 ) 2 —, —(CF 2 ) 3 — or —(CF 2 ) 4 —. Suitable catalysts include carbon catalysts and catalysts containing at least one compound of a selected metal (e.g., Na, K, Rb, Cs, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Cr, Fe, Co, Rh, Ni, Cu, and/or Zn) supported on carbon. The saturated gem-dihydro- products may also be produced by hydrofluorinating the corresponding olefinic product over such catalysts at an elevated temperature, and can be combined with various other miscible solvents to form compositions useful for cleaning. Compounds such as CF 3 CF 2 CH 2 CF 2 CF 3 , CF 3 CF 2 CH 2 (CF 2 ) 2 CF 3 , CF 3 CH═CF (CF 2 ) 2 CF 3 , CF 3 CF═CH(CF 2 ) 2 CF 3 , CF 3 CF 2 CH 2 (CF 2 ) 3 CF 3 , CF 3 (CF 2 ) 2 CH 2 (CF 2 ) 2 CF 3 , CF 3 CH═CF(CF 2 ) 3 CF 3 , CF 3 CF═CH (CF 2 ) 3 CF 3 , CF 3 (CF 2 ) 2 CH 2 (CF 2 ) 3 CF 3 , CF 3 CF 2 CH 2 (CF 2 ) 4 CF 3 , CF 3 CH═CF(CF 2 ) 4 CF 3 , CF 3 CF═CH (CF 2 ) 4 CF 3 , CF 3 CF 2 CH═CF(CF 2 ) 3 CF 3 , CF 3 CF 2 CF═CH(CF 2 ) 3 CF 3 and and azeotropic compositions such as azeotropes of CF 3 CH 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 3 and/or CF 3 CF 2 CH 2 CF 2 CF 3 with methanol, ethanol, or isopropanol are disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A compound having the formula R 1 CH 2 CF 2 R 2  wherein R 1  is selected from the group consisting of —CF 2 CF 3  and —CF 2 CF 2 CF 3  and R 2  is selected from the group consisting of —CF 3 , —CF 2 CF 3  and —CF 2 CF 2 CF 3  or wherein R 1  and R 2  together are —(CF 2 ) 3 —. 
     
     
       2. The compound of claim  1  which is CF 3 CF 2 CH 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 3 . 
     
     
       3. The compound of claim  1  which is CF 3 CF 2 CF 2 CH 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 3 . 
     
     
       4. The compound of claim  1  which is CF 3 CF 2 CF 2 CH 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 3 . 
     
     
       5. The compound of claim  1  which is CF 3 CF 2 CH 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 2 . 
     
     
       6. The compound of claim  1  which is CF 3 CF 2 CH 2 CF 2 CF 2 CF 3 . 
     
     
       7. The compound of claim  1  which is CF 3 CF 2 CH 2 CF 2 CF 3 . 
     
     
       8. The compound of claim  1  which is